Mirror Frame
1490-1510 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This fascinating object would have originally held a small convex mirror of glass or polished steel.
The moulding and painting are beautifully executed and, even though the space for the mirror is rather small, it was certainly meant to be used by the presumably female owner and might have been commissioned in connection with marriage.
The inscription painted on this mirror frame refers to a real woman's name 'Isoretta', but it shows a portrait of an ideal beauty, a young and beautiful blond lady with elaborate headdress and refined jewellery. The object might have had a metaphoric meaning as if the reflected image of the viewer will mirror the ideal beauty and virtue depicted on the frame.
In the V&A there is a very similar mirror frame attributed by the Sienese artist Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi, made of painted and gilded papier-mâche (Museum no. 850-1884). Although the latter object is bigger than the maiolica mirror frame the mould might have been copied from a sculptural prototype made in the workshop of a sculptor or painter.
The moulding and painting are beautifully executed and, even though the space for the mirror is rather small, it was certainly meant to be used by the presumably female owner and might have been commissioned in connection with marriage.
The inscription painted on this mirror frame refers to a real woman's name 'Isoretta', but it shows a portrait of an ideal beauty, a young and beautiful blond lady with elaborate headdress and refined jewellery. The object might have had a metaphoric meaning as if the reflected image of the viewer will mirror the ideal beauty and virtue depicted on the frame.
In the V&A there is a very similar mirror frame attributed by the Sienese artist Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi, made of painted and gilded papier-mâche (Museum no. 850-1884). Although the latter object is bigger than the maiolica mirror frame the mould might have been copied from a sculptural prototype made in the workshop of a sculptor or painter.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Mirror frame, almond shaped, depicts bust of lady in relief, tin-glazed earthenware painted in colours, made in Montelupo, about 1500-10 |
| Physical description | Tin-glazed earthenware plaque. Decorated with the image of a young blonde woman, her arms folded on her chest. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'ISORETTA GALANTE' (Painted in blue) |
| Gallery label | Mirror frame
Made in Montelupo, Italy about 1500-10
Inscription: 'ISORETTA GALANTE', painted in blue
Tin-glazed earthenware
C.2111-1910 Salting Bequest(16/07/2008) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq. |
| Production | Kiln waist fragments of the shape and size of this mirror frame have been recently found in Montelupo and indicate that such mirror frames where produced locally. |
| Summary | This fascinating object would have originally held a small convex mirror of glass or polished steel. The moulding and painting are beautifully executed and, even though the space for the mirror is rather small, it was certainly meant to be used by the presumably female owner and might have been commissioned in connection with marriage. The inscription painted on this mirror frame refers to a real woman's name 'Isoretta', but it shows a portrait of an ideal beauty, a young and beautiful blond lady with elaborate headdress and refined jewellery. The object might have had a metaphoric meaning as if the reflected image of the viewer will mirror the ideal beauty and virtue depicted on the frame. In the V&A there is a very similar mirror frame attributed by the Sienese artist Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi, made of painted and gilded papier-mâche (Museum no. 850-1884). Although the latter object is bigger than the maiolica mirror frame the mould might have been copied from a sculptural prototype made in the workshop of a sculptor or painter. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 351 - Rackham (1977) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.2111-1910 |
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| Record created | July 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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